MAFFS Mission Report

July 23rd, 2008

Today’s Topic: Will The Real Star of the Show Please Stand-up

Up until now, the MAFFS Mission Reports have showcased many of the key components of the current activation without whose considerable contributions would have rendered the continued mission success difficult, if not impossible. But so far, the primetime player who has racked up more miles, packed more payload and poured out more volume has only received passing credit on these pages.

And, of course, I am referring to our fabulous fleet of venerable American-built, four-engine turboprop Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

Based on its versatility, it could be considered the Swiss Army knife of the planes. It has served for more than 50 years of continuous use in our military, as well as numerous foreign countries and civilian use. These massive payload movers have been around since the early 50’s when a new design of tactical airlifter was needed to replace the outdated World War II-era transport planes, such as the old C-119 Flying Boxcars.

There have been more than 2000 of these planes built with model variants running the alphabet from “A” to “J”—so far.

Among the many applications is its use as an aerial refueling station for airplanes and even helicopters on extended flying missions. Some have had skis attached to allow landing on remote places with perennial ice such as Antarctica.

For the general public, one of the more recognized uses of this aerial workhorse is by the U.S. Coast Guard with the countless search and rescue missions that have saved many a life of wayward mariners.

This plane is the largest and heaviest aircraft to have ever landed and taken off from an aircraft carrier–and without use of an arresting cable, no less–can be seen in this 1963 video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfwJJD5jGXk&feature=related

One not so subtle version of this plane is used with the Blue Angels air shows, especially when flown with the jet-assisted take-off system (JATO’s). Compared to the agile and maneuverable fighters, this lumbering giant, affectionately called “Fat Albert,” with fire seemingly shooting out the tail is without a doubt an impressive display of airborne action.

And of course, the C-130’s use as a MAFFS airtanker has been showcased in these Mission Reports for the past three weeks. Firefighters up and down the State of California have been privileged to have had the benefit of hundreds of sorties that dropped over a million gallons of fire retardant to aid in the recent battle to quell thousands of wildfires that scorched almost a million acres.

The highly capable Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve pilots attest to these adept aircraft. Lt. Col. Corey Steinbrink, piloting MAFFS 2, told of flying fire retardant sorties while “max performing the plane” with take-offs at load capacities of a staggering 155,000 pounds, flying in tight formation with the lead plane directing their drops at only 150 feet off the ground flying less than 140 miles per hour. Pilots Maj. Justin Walrath and Capt. Drew Judkins commented on the thrill of having just dropped the millionth gallon of fire retardant on the fires.

These are the conditions that prove both the airplane and its pilots.

Among many specialized applications of this aircraft, one of the more unusual has to be the famous Fulton recovery system, also known as the “skyhook.” If you saw the 1965 James Bond movie, Thunderball, you may recall a scene where James Bond and a companion get snagged up by a plane so equipped. And it appeared three years later in the John Wayne movie, The Green Berets.

The system consists of a V-shaped yoke on the nose of the C-130 with someone–or something–harnessed into a long, strong line that extends up into the sky connected to a self-inflating floating balloon. The idea is that the plane flies low and slow, scoops the person up, and then reels them into the plane.

The testing, which took place back in the late fifties, went through a number of iterations. First came testing to snag some inanimate weights: this was followed by picking up a dummy.

Then finally they decided to try hoisting a pig because as the story goes, pigs apparently have a nervous system similar to humans. There was no written record as to whether the pig was asked to volunteer for this testing.

When they attempted the pig pick-up, due to the shape of a pig being shaped somewhat like a football, the animal was subjected to a major spin cycle as it flew along above the ground.

This dizzying display of a pig being rotisserized—with the only heat probably being generated by one, mad-hot pig—resulted in a couple of not so unexpected outcomes, according to the written report. The first reference stated, “It arrived on board undamaged but in a disoriented state.

This physiological condition by itself was probably manageable by the flight crew but it was followed by, “Once it recovered, it attacked the crew.

No additional reference to the outcome of the pig was mentioned.

But as to the C-130, it has been proven time and time again for its versatility, durability and generally great task-ability. Creative new uses for the future can only be imagined.

The American public—and the world, itself—will continue to benefit for this marvelous flying machine.

Here’s to the designers, builders, ground and flight crews for another 50 years of distinguished service.